Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-05-28
THE REPUBLICS GUARDS.
A BRIGADE OF GENDARMEs FOR
 THE FRENCH CAPITAL.
Paris showy Soldiers Who Are Charged with the Maintenance of PubIic.order. Infantry and CavaIry-DaIIy Routine of Duty

with the Maintenance of PubIIc.ord.r
 Infantry and CavaIry-DaiIy Routine
 of Duty
 Tho Garde Rspablicaine is a brigade of SenlaE1mcs charged with the maintenance of pnolc oruer in the French capital Gen am and the guards are picked soldiers oeloIslns in reality tO the same branch of lle puolr service, differing only in the color oi thelr tfe-a-l shaped epaulettcs. which from ti-ne iil'i-no-ial have been white for the 'oriner 2nt orange for the latter, and in 'A-!r head covering. The infantry of ths S2rG', instco1 Cf the classic cooked hat worr. as Nanoleon ] w ore his legendary bicorne. wear The Airicsu shakO, a stiff, light cap Nith a visor. wh-s tEe cavalry sport helmets very similar Co those of the regular cuiras- Sie-s.
 The "Garde q 'honneur du Gouyernment de ia Hepubiique, ' aS the minister. of war calls tHcn- Is comIoscl of two divisions-the in i1ulry. m which there are three blttalious. and the cavalry, consisting of three squaI- rons. The legion k commanded bv colonel who belongs tp the gendaTmerie. and who as a general thing k only promoted to the loSi- ton after having fillel that of chief of le--ion in the reniarmcrie Of his department He is assisted in his duties by two lieutenant coi0n,'s-onc for the mounted nlcn. the other for the ''dou -ibnTS" Beside thes,. there are six chieis of >4uairpns. thirty captains. slE captain adj djutauts forty-eisht lieutenants for the infantry and twenty four lisutenants Tor the cavalry-;utal IF officers. who com mani about 2.>Hn men. of whom 600 nre cavalry. Form -ly this legion was known Dg the H.iIne of Garde Municipale. then the name of The corps was changed to Gar,le de iarlS, anl b1.h of these had the merit of de- iinlns more exactly than does the one it now o.lici1lly bear, the functions for which IL was established. The protection of good order in the capital WIS the real raison d'etre of this corr d'elite. and the city pays half the cost O! its maintenance.
 DOUBLE LINE OF DUTY.
 According Co a decree issued by Louis Sauol-0n in lS5i and by which they are governed. the garies arc, so to speak, part o' the prefecture of police. while in all relat- ,l- tJ the execution of the laws they are also an auxiliary of The courts of justice. l-is dogb!e line of duty has iei to a division -t the service of the corps into two branches, that of the prefecture and that of the courts. and l must therefore define what thes. dis tinct duties consist of Thoss which it per forms as an auxiliary of the prefecture of police are of two snrtS-a daily duty and an extraordinary one The daily duties consist of mounting guard at the Grand Opera. the theatres, the circuses and the public balls To each p.acr of amusement a platoon or squad is detailed every evening, and their igarching through the streets is one of the pretty sights of the capital Often, to, some of the garles are sent to assure good order wherever a crowd has assembled for any lawful purposo.
 The extraordinary duties of the force are far more important than their regular daily detail. When the prefect of police has rsa- son to expect trouble of any sort within the limits of his department he makes a requisi- tiun on the colonel commanding for $ detail Of his force; and 10 promptly meet any such summons piquet of twenty five cavalrymen is always kept at headquarters ready to mount and gsllop to any part of the city. Generally, when troahle is anticipated. they are stationed in sorno ncighborinS building and only show themselves in case of absolute necessity. There is always much reluctance at headquarters Co make such use of the GGrde Eepubirainc. and this is quite nat tural. for nothing SD jnaames the anger of Paris mob as to find itself exposed to q cavalry charge. It is only when the police ilnd themselves powcrless to keep the peace; often when they are. So to speak, over whelmci by a mob, that charge of tho gar,les is ordered. As matter of fact these cannot make arrests and this renders them less dangerous to those who wish to cause trouble than the police. who san promptly run in any person who opposes | them